British traveller Lee Thompson, co-founder of travel company The Flash Pack, convinced Brazilian tourism authorities to let him climb Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer to take the first-ever selfie from the top of the 30-metre-tall statue.

Thompson had to climb a narrow staircase inside the statue for about 25 minutes before he could pop out of a plug in the top of the head and snap his selfie with the incredible Rio skyline below.

In a post on The Flash Pack website, Thomspon said, "After what felt like an eternity of pressing heat and pitch darkness, we finally reached the small compartment in Christ’s shoulder. I grabbed the rope and pulled myself along the smooth soapstone up into the head of the statue where we carefully opened the hatch. My heart was pounding with excitement and I couldn’t wait another second. As I popped my head out of the hole in Jesus’ crown, I was in total and utter awe as my eyes met with a vast panorama that quite literally took my breath away."